Illinois football: Illini snagged a versatile defensive back in Saboor Karriem

Illinois football head coach Bret Bielema and his coaching staff just bolstered its future in the secondary by landing New Jersey’s top-ranked cornerback.

2023 three-star defensive back Saboor Karriem announced to Twitter on Saturday that he has committed to the Illini.

Karriem attends West Orange High School in New Jersey, where he is ranked the No. 17 player in the state and No. 961 in the nation by 247Sports.

The 6-foot-3, 180-pound defensive back had at least 22 other scholarship offers from programs including Duke, Indiana, Louisville, Maryland, Michigan State, and Wisconsin among others.

What type of player is Illinois football commit Saboor Karriem?

Karriem, who goes by “Prime Time,” is capable of playing both sides of the ball, as he lines up at cornerback and wide receiver for West Orange.

The tape of Karriem proves he’s got anything and everything you would want in a defensive back; speed, length, solid footwork, great hands, and an eye for the ball.  To top it off, his crisp route-running and ability to create separation from a defender allow him to excel as a wide receiver.

West Orange head coach Darnell Grant describes him as a “dawg,” noting his high IQ on and off the field, along with his high energy.  Grant also mentioned he is a great teammate.

A dominant performance in West Orange’s week four win highlights what has been a dominant senior season for Karriem. The senior defensive back had three touchdowns and two picks, including a 25-yard pick-six and a jet sweep he took 41 yards to the house.

“Prime Time” even had a Randy Moss-Esque catch in the Mountaineers’ season opener, which earned top 10 honors.

With his commitment, Karriem became the 17th member of the Fighting Illini’s 2023 recruiting class, which ranks No. 55 in the country and No. 12 in the conference.